Spring construction for mattresses and the like



Aug. 21, 1945. @A INK A2,383,157

SPRING CONSTRUCTION FOR MATTRESSES AND THE LIKE Filed oct. 13, 1941 l 2 Simms-sheet` 1 Aug. 21, 1945.

SPRINGLCONSTRUCTION FOR MATTRSSES AND THE LIKE Filed Ot. "13, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug; 21, 1945` UNITED [STAT MATTnEssEs `AND THE LIKE i i i Cheste; A.1=ink, chicago, 111., assgor to The y 'Englander Company, Inc., a corporation of Del- `aware Application yoctober 13, 1941, serial No` 414,801

is claims.` (o1. 5 .248) v,

The invention relates to spring` constructions for mattresses and `the like and has as `its ge'neral aim the provision in such structures of simple yet highly'` effective means for amplifying the support afforded'bycertain areas ofthe spring system without noticeably diminishing the yielding resiliencythereof. i

In spring systems `for-,mattresses `the constructerially lessens the resiliency `of the system as a i whole and in some instances actually divides the system into ftwo or more substantiallyindependy ently actingsections separated either by a sharp uncomfortable vable gap.

tions employ a plurality of coil springs connected together andmay or may not include border v members at the margins of the system to which the outer rows of springs are connected. Systems of this nature are subject to the disadvantages that they yield throughout their surface area uniformly according to the weight thereon and that such yielding is widely distributed over and affects most ofthe spring system. Since certain portions of a reclining body are heavier than others uniformity `of yielding is adisad-` vantage because the heavier parts will be inadequately supported ifthe springsystem lis constructed to gveproper support `to the average lighter bodyparts.` ,Moreover, if the samesprings r of thesystem are consistently over-loaded actual deformation thereofnray occur to produce permanently depressed areas. i i i `ridge orgby an equally undesirlnobject of the `invention is to provide fa spring system which is espeoialy well adapted for inner springmattressesand which embodies novel 4means for increasing the support aorded by cer-` ta'in areas of the systemwithout materially ldiminishing the flexibility or yielding characteristic of such areas.

nAnother object is to provide in a spring systemnew-and improved means for subdividing the systeminto aplurality of lareas each having mar:

A disadvantage resulting `from thefwide,unin-` terrupted distribution of stresses `overthe entire system arises when two` persons of. different weights `occupyithe samerbed. Obviously, the heavier person will depress the system to a greater extent than therlighter person. The intermediate portions` of the system betweenthe persons willtend to equalize the, stresses `imposed by` the two weights Whilethe outer portions of the system tend only to distribute the weight of the person to the nearest 'bordermemben `Consequently the lighter body will `be` supported at a higher level than the heavier body and the sep-` 'arating portion will have a definite downward slope tending to cause the lighter body to roll `toward the heavier. i l

Various expedients have been proposed to overcome these diiiiculties.` Spring systems have been tried in which stronger springs have been placed ginalsupport common to anadjoining` area. y

, `More specifically stated, an object is to provide a new and improved spring system embodying a plurality of resiliently connected springs located withinthe confines of borderA members and means in the form of one or more` frames each enclosingthesprings ina smaller 'part of the total area` and connected only to the springs along theA lines ofthe frames for subdividing the `surface area of the system into smaller areas.` Other objects and advantageswill become apparent in the following description and from the ,i

accompanying drawings in which:

Figure `1 is a somewhat diagrammaticview of the upper surface ofthe springsystem embodying the `features of the present invention.` Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view .an on en- `larged scale taken substantialy along theline 17m-'2 in those areas usually subjected `to the heavier` stresses. This arrangement is expensive to manufacture, it produces rather sharp .lines separating the stronger"` and 'weaker springs Vand the stronger spring` areas must be arbitrarilyselected.

in manufacture. `Spring reenforcing means in the nature of tie wires running through the spring system have falsobeen proposed but suchfexpedi-` ents donot accomplish the purpose of thepresb ent invention since such reinforcing means i ma` Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar tyFig. a

butillustrates the positions that may be assumed by the springs of thesylstem in use. i

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view on agreatly i enlargedscale, showing approximately-that por- `tion of the system bounded bythe broken line 4` `inligil.` l

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 5--5 of Fig.,4.\` f

i Fig. 6 is a view showing` a detail of ,fa ,modiiled' formvoffconnecting means; 1 i While thei invention is susceptible Iof various modications and alternative constructions, I`

have shown in thedrawings and will Aherein describe in detail, the preferredembodiments, :but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific `forms disclosed,`but intend to cover all modicationsand alternative Vconstructions; falling :within fthe spiritY and scope ofthe invention as expressed in the the particular one herein illustrated and described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2,\ the spring system comprises a plurality of similar coil springs IU arranged in closely spaced longitudinally and transversely alined rows. The

springs are disposed in the same'lplane and provide opposite or upper and lower flat surfaces.

End and side marginal rowsv of springs vare traversed by top and bottom border members `II (herein shown as flexible but relatively heavy wires) and theouter portion of the top andV botlcom end turns of each spring in these marginal rows are suitably secured to the border wires as by means of helicallycoiled wires I2, commonly termed pigtails. Longitudinally adjoining coil springs are in this instance secured together by transversely extending helically coiled` wires or pigtails I3. In such a spring system the yielding resiliency of the coilsprings is substantially uniform throughout the total area. of the system and the border Wires are sufficiently exible to yield with the marginal springs while affording points of suspension at the margins of the spring system. V

According to the present invention the upper supporting surface area of thespring system y is subdivided into a` plurality of smaller areas each having its own points of suspension. Thus, as'shown in Fig. 1, a'closed frame I4 dimensioned to enclose an area that is substantially smaller than the total area enclosed by the border wire II is mounted upon the flat surface area of the spring system in inwardly spaced relationto the border .wire II. The frame I4 is preferably formed of' wire of somewhat smaller gauge than the 'border' wire so that the frame is less rigid and more flexible. 'Tlieframe is so dimensioned thatfeachend or side thereof willextend along alined portions of the end turns of predetermined longitudinal yor transverse rows of coil springs. Each coil spring thus traversed by the framewire is suitably secured thereto. Thus the coil springs of the transverse rows are preferably secured to the ends of the Aframe by the pigtails I3 that connect-the transverse rows together whereby in this instance the frame ends are connected to two transverse rows of coil springs. The 'ycoil springs of the longitudinal rows may be suitably connected individually to the frame as by means of small wire loops or clips I5. In'this connection, `as shown in Figf, the coil springs of the longitudinal rows might be joined to the frame I4 by longitudinally extending pigtails I6. In constructing the frame I4 it has been found unnecessary rto secure the meeting ends of the wire permanently together. Assembly is facilitated by merely overlapping the loose ends of the frame wire as indicated at Il and I8 in Fig. 5 and holding these overlapping'y ends in position bythe connecting pigtail I3. l

It may be pointed out that since inner spring mattresses are reversible, subdividingframes I4 will be secured to the opposite surfacesfof the spring system. In use the frame on the upper surface Will-be primarilythe effective one, al;

though the frame on the lower surface of a reversible mattress will have some effect where the mattress is yieldably supported. If the mattress is supported on an unyielding surface only the `frame on the upper surface will be effective. In

operation each subdividing frame I4 has the effect of providing additional suspension points for the springs betweenthe pointsof suspension afforded by the border wires. Being rmly connected with each of the springs it traverses, the' subdividing vframe segregates the springs into small units out- I side as well as inside tlie frames.

The smaller units have a spring action which appears to be the resultant of the connected springs in that the yielding support afforded by the springs in the smaller areas is increased even though the resiliency of each individual spring is unchanged. Any

f one frame has an action like that of the border the resistance offered by the springs in any part ofl the system., When the invention is embodied in a mattress dimensioned for a double width bed a plurality of subdividing frames may be used to produce a highly desirable result. As shown in Fig. l, two of the frames I4 are employed, these frames being identical in construction and connection with the coil springs and being located approximately centrally of the longitudinally divided halves of the system. It is to be noted that the inner and adjoining wires of the frames are connected with the opposite sides of the longitudinally extending central row of coil springs. Thus, throughout the longitudinal medial line of the spring system, both frames will have a suspending effect on the central row of coil springs which further increases the support afforded by this row of springs.

With this arrangement the spring -system has in a transverse direction six effective points of suspension represented by the two outer longitudinally extending -border wires and by the longitudinally extending portions of the frames I4. These points of suspension have been designated by the letters A to F, inclusive, in Fig. 3. In the use of the mattress by two persons of different weights, the heavier person will, of course, compress the springs which support him to a greater extent than will the lighter person.v Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, a heavy person might compress the springs as indicated through the area B'to C, while the lighter person might compress the springs to the extent indicated through the area D to E, whereas in spring systems as heretofore constructed the intervening springs between these f cated by the portion C to D) between the heavier and lighter persons. Thus, the present invention overcomes the objectionable tendency of the lighter person to roll toward the heavier person.`

Howeventhe inherent resiliency of4 each of the i springs of the central row is not materially affected and the segregation of this row of springs individual springs.

to provide a dividing or separating area cannot be noticed by a person` lying thereon.

It will fbe evident from the foregoing that a novel spring system has been provided in which `certain predetermined areas afford increased support to the heavier portions of the body Without materially impairing the resiliency of `the Moreover the surface area of the system may be segregated into a plurality of areas in such fashion that'individual areas may lbe occupied `by different persons without affecting the area occupied `by the other person. These advantages may be achieved by the simple and inexpensive arrangement and relationship of elements herein disclosed.`

I claim as my invention:

ing rows together, a, pair f subdividing Vframes located on said supporting surface and disposed one on each longitudinally divided half of the` system, said frames being flexible wire loops dimensioned` to encircle a` plurality of springs and to extend along the edges of predetermined lines of springs inwardly of said fbcrdersupporting means, and `means for directly connecting `said frames to each of the springs in` said predetermined lines of springs, the adjacent sides of said frames being directly connected respectively with opposite sides of the innermost or 1. In a spring system for mattresses orthe like,

the combination of a plurality of springs arranged i in alined rows, a, pair of frames located on the springs alined in'longtudinally and transversely i extending rows, means for connecting said springs into a unitary structure including border supporting means and transversely extending resilient ties connecting the springs'in adjoincentral line of springs.v

3. In aspring system for mattresses or the like, the combination with a plurality of closely spaced springs and means connecting said springs into a unitary system having a substantially flat plane supporting surface, a plurality of flexible means located on said supporting sur` face and subdividing said surface into smaller spring areas within the margins of the system, said plurality of subdividing means being spaced i relative to one another transversely of the length ofthe system, and means attaching each of the subdividing means directly to opposite sides of each of the associated springs in a central 1ongitudinally extending row of springs, the attaching means preventing relative separating movement of the subdividing means and providing therewith a central area defined by said central l row o-f said springs having their yielding characteristics modified by their connection with the subdividing means.

CHESTER A. PINK. 

